Spain: The most beautiful cities for a city break
Ten travel tips for an individual city trip to Spain. Suggestions for a short vacation in one of the most beautiful Spanish cities. Tips for those interested in art, culture and the Spanish way of life.
10 tips for a city trip to Spain
1. Madrid, the capital
Madrid, the cultural and economic center of Spain, is located in the middle of the Spanish mainland. The well-arranged, historic old town is surrounded by parks and modern architecture. Highlights include the Prado and Reina Sofia art museums.
Madrid is a city of movement. In the warm summer months, the nightlife in the squares and streets goes on until well after midnight. Puerta del Sol square is a central meeting place of everyday life, but also a place of political demonstrations.
Information for a city trip to Madrid, the capital of Spain.
2. Barcelona, the Catalan metropolis on the Mediterranean Sea
Catalonia is not Spain. This is the view of many who live in the Catalan capital and always make this known publicly.
Barcelona, the port city at the Mediterranean Sea, is characterized by the architecture of the modernism like no other city. A symbol of this is the church Sagrada Familia, still under construction. A masterpiece of the Catalan architect Antoni GaudI. Not far from the old town, the beaches with their bars and restaurants offer refreshment and relaxation after the stress of the city tour. Barcelona is popular, the many tourists bring money, but also problems. About it the city society discusses passionately.
Information for a city trip to Barcelona, pictures and tips.
3. Seville, pure Andalusia
In the Andalusian capital on both sides of the Guadalquivir River beats the heart of the Spanish south.
The flamenco is part of it, as well as the bullfighting, which is still practiced here. The outstanding sights are the cathedral and the royal palace. Visitors jostle through the narrow streets of the Barrio de Santa Cruz neighborhood. Away from the tourist trails, there are many opportunities to immerse yourself in the daily life of the people. In no other major European city can spring be experienced as early as in Seville.
Information for a city trip to Seville, pictures and tips.
4. Bilbao, from an industrial city to a cultural metropolis
A city trip to Bilbao, the largest city of the Spanish Basque Country, leads most as a mandatory visit to the Guggenheim Museum.
This important art museum is a symbol of Bilbao's transformation from an industrial city with smoking chimneys to a modern center of culture and services. Contrast this with the narrow streets of the old town of Casco Viejo on the right bank of the RIa de Bilbao, which connects the city to the open sea.
Information for a city trip to Bilbao, pictures and tips.
5. Granada, the Moorish heritage in Spain
The Alhambra, the former residence of the Nazarites, is the most magnificent building of Moorish architects on European soil and consequently a highlight in Granada.
The palace is so popular that it is impossible to visit without reserving tickets in advance. The backdrop to Granada are the often snow-capped mountains of the Sierra Nevada. A highlight of any city trip to Granada is the view in the early evening from the Mirador de San Nicolas to the Alhambra and the Sierra Nevada in the background.
Information for a city trip to Granada, pictures and tips.
6. A Coruna, the port city at the end of the world
A Coruna, the capital of Galicia in northwestern Spain, is located on a peninsula lapped by the rough waves of the Atlantic Ocean.
The port city is a city of the sea and rough winds. To still catch the sun, many houses have white, glazed wooden balconies, which shaped the typical cityscape. Landmark of the city is the lighthouse Torre de Hercules. For over 2.For thousands of years, the Guadalquivir has shown seafarers the safe way to the harbor. Besides the small old town and the museums, the fine sandy beaches are attractions of the Galician seaside city.
Information for a city trip to A Coruna with pictures and tips.
7. Valencia, modern architecture and fine museums
Valencia is one of the up-and-coming city destinations in Spain.
The capital of the Comunitat Valenciana impresses with modern architecture of the cultural and scientific district. Other attractions include the historic Old Town, where the Water Court has been sitting in front of the cathedral for centuries, as well as the beaches slightly outside. The old quarter of Barrio del Carmen, long left to decay, is now a popular meeting place for locals and visitors, especially in the evenings.
Information for a city trip to Valencia, pictures and tips.
8. Toledo, the city of three cultures
The old city is picturesquely situated on a hill, almost completely surrounded by the river Tagus.
The old city sits picturesquely on a hill almost completely embraced by the Tagus River. Toledo proudly presents the cultural diversity of its history, which is marked by Moorish, Jewish and Christian influences. The landmark of the city is the gothic cathedral Santa MarIa. The Cretan-born painter El Greco spent the longest part of his life in the city. Toledo is the capital of the community of Castilla-La Mancha in central Spain. Due to its relative proximity to Madrid, Toledo is one of the most popular city break destinations in Spain.
Information for a city trip to Toledo, pictures and tips.
9. Cadiz, the port city with a view of America
The oldest port city in Europe is picturesquely situated on an elongated peninsula on the Costa de la Luz, the Atlantic coast of Andalusia.
Trade with Spanish colonies overseas brought prosperity to Cadiz. From there, however, the provincial capital also received cultural impulses that e.g. expressed during the Carnival of Cadiz. It's fun to stroll through the narrow streets of the old town, to try a tapa here and there, and to take a dip in the sea to cool off.
Information for a city trip to Cadiz in Andalusia with pictures and tips.
10. Santiago de Compostela, the pilgrim city
More students live in the capital of Galicia than visitors come to the city every day.
This provides a counterbalance to the steady stream of pilgrims and tourists to the terminus of the Camino de Santiago. Since the summer of 2018, the main entrance of Santiago Cathedral, the Portico de la Gloria, shines in new splendor after many years of restoration work. Who visits Santiago de Compostela, should not forget the umbrella, because here it rains frequently.
Information for a city trip to Santiago de Compostela, pictures and tips.
More travel tips for city breaks in Spain
The best time to travel to Spain for a city break is usually in the months of spring and fall. An exception are the cities in northern Spain, where bearable temperatures prevail even in midsummer.